Arrivals: A Birth Story Podcast

In this episode, Merelise is joined by Charmaine McNeil, a UK-trained midwife and doula, now practicing in the US.

Charmaine shares her daughter’s C-section birth story before pivoting to insights on birth practices, healthcare systems, and the importance of informed choices in maternity care. She discusses her unique background, the differences between UK and US maternity care, and the critical role of doulas in advocating for women.

They also chat a little bit about Merelise’s second birth, as Charmaine was her doula for it! 

Resource Links:

• Learn more about Charmaine - Pinkyinc Doula
• Follow Charmaine on Instagram 
• The Body Myth by Milli Hill 
• Follow Arrivals on Instagram
• Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

Trigger warning: this episode contains brief discussion of pregnancy loss.

This week, Merelise is joined by her friend Dr. Charlie Watts, mom, doula and pelvic floor occupational therapist. 

They discuss Charlie’s winding path to birth work and how the experience of birthing her son has changed both her doula and occupational floor practice. Charlie talks Merelise through her difficult pregnancy, where she was first misdiagnosed with a velamentous cord insertion, then discovered she had a connective tissue disorder and was eventually diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome postpartum. She shares the unique challenges that people with connective tissue disorders face in pregnancy and postpartum and what they can do to prepare their bodies for an optimal birth and postpartum recovery. 

Charlie reflects on the birth of her son, Judah - a long but beautiful experience, starting with 66 hours of labor at home and culminating in a water birth at The Atlanta Birth Center. However, soon after giving birth to a 9 lb 4 oz baby boy, Charlie’s bliss was interrupted when she began hemorrhaging, possibly due in part to her unexpected bifurcated placenta. The team at the birth center handled everything quickly and got her bleeding under control in time for her to still enjoy a beautiful golden hour with her son and husband. 

Throughout the episode, they also discuss fertility, pregnancy loss, the value doulas bring, how your partner can support you in pregnancy and birth, Charlie's retroverted uterus, her misdiagnosis that almost led to a scheduled C-section, the importance of strength training, and so much more.

Charlie’s pregnancy and birth story is a wonderful testament to the power of midwifery, informed pregnancy, and advocating for yourself.

Resource Links:

• Follow Charlie on Instagram
• Learn more about Charlie’s Occupational Therapy Practice
• Follow Arrivals on Instagram
• Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

This week, Merelise is joined by mom, entrepreneur, writer, speaker and wellness expert, Chinae Alexander. 

Chinae walks Merelise through her planned induction at 36 weeks due to the size of her baby, and the breezy birth that followed. They also discuss the importance of not settling, becoming a mom at 40, the benefits of acupuncture, psychic predictions of twins, coming to terms with not enjoying pregnancy, the value in spending time with people in different life stages and so much more.

Resource Links:

• Follow Chinae on Instagram

• Follow Arrivals on Instagram
• Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

Merelise is joined this week by Milli Hill, mother, author and founder of The Positive Birth Movement. 

Milli shares how her birth experiences were inextricably woven with her journey towards founding the Positive Birth Movement and becoming a celebrated author. She explains that after she was induced and her first child was born via forceps and with an episiotomy in hospital, she decided to have home water births for her second and third children. She reflects on how both of those births, supported entirely by midwives, were peaceful, joyful experiences, full of small magical moments. She also recalls the moment she birthed her second daughter at home and found out she was 10 pounds 4 oz, and how thankful she was that no one had “caught” her potentially large baby prior to her birth, or she may not have had the beautiful home birth she did.  

Throughout the conversation, Milli and Merelise discuss the impact of birth stories and the media’s portrayal of birth on women’s perception of birth, the role of environment and support in birth, the importance of inclusivity in the dialogue around birth, hypnobirthing, and so much more. 

They conclude the conversation by talking about Milli’s latest book, The Body Myth, which is all about the female body through the entirety of its life.

Milli explains matriflux, the word she has created to describe all the transformations and versions of ourselves that we experience as women. They discuss the difficulty of living in a world that was created by people without a matriflux, but also how, due to our matriflux, women are naturally more adaptable and comfortable with change. The conclude on the importance of understanding the different phases of our bodies, our menstrual cycles and all the power we contain as women.

Resource Links:

• Follow Milli on Instagram
• The Positive Birth Book
• The Body Myth
• More books by Milli
• The Positive Birth Movement

• Follow Arrivals on Instagram
• Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

This week, Merelise is joined by her friend, photographer and director, Kathryn Brolin. Kathryn reflects on her experience giving birth to her two girls and all of the imperfect but beautiful moments of motherhood. 

Both of Kathryn’s girls were born in a hospital, one in LA and one in Atlanta. She highlights the amazing care she received from both of her OBGYNs and how during both of her labors, she got an epidural so she could rest, but then eased off of it when it was getting close to pushing time, so she could feel her contractions and connect with her body more. 

They spend time reflecting on all the challenges that postpartum brings and for Kathryn, the particularly difficult experience of having to evacuate their home in Santa Monica due to the Woolsey fire, when she was 3 days postpartum with her first. 

Kathryn also talks about the beautifully unique experience of having older stepchildren, how she chose her daughters’ names, her gratitude for her husband’s playful and adventurous spirit, and why accepting help from your village is SO important. 

Resource Links:

• Follow Kathryn on Instagram 
• Dr. Bickman  (OBGYN in Santa Monica) 
• Carson Meyer (Doula)
• Nanny Connie
• Dr. Vanoyan (OBGYN in Atlanta)

• Follow Arrivals on Instagram
• Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

In this week’s episode, Merelise invites her husband, Chris Wilson, back into the spotlight to share their experiences surrounding the birth of their second son, Ford, who was born in a low-intervention hospital setting, with no epidural. The conversation unfolds with warmth, humor, and poignancy as they reflect on the unique journey of parenthood and the bittersweet aspect of new beginnings being entwined with a season of loss. 

Merelise shares how there were two milestones that really defined her pregnancy - their decision to get a puppy and her father passing away when she was 20 weeks pregnant. She talks about how managing grief during pregnancy took a toll on her but also, that being pregnant and then having a newborn also was a welcome distraction. They also discuss the ways they honored her dad and how he’s still present in their lives.

They also discuss their decision to fire their original doula and hire a new one with only about 2 months left in her pregnancy and why that was the best decision they could have made.

When it comes to the birth of her son, Merelise recalls her water breaking a week after her son’s due date, some medical hiccups that occurred early in labor, struggling to cope with her contractions, mother-led pushing, experiencing the fetal ejection reflex, and the very quick pushing phase she had. 

Throughout the episode, Merelise and Chris reflect on the God-winks they received, the important role their doulas played in pregnancy, birth and postpartum, what they learned from their first to second birth, and how   

Resource Links:

• Charmaine McNeil (doula)
• Penny Gilchrist (postpartum doula)
• Follow Arrivals on Instagram
• Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

This week, Merelise is joined by Ellie, who shares the story of her successful breech, vaginal delivery in a hospital.

Ellie walks Merelise through the shock of finding out her baby was breech at 36 weeks, her attempts to flip her - including an unsuccessful ECV - and ultimately, her decision to transfer to the only OBGYN in Atlanta who will deliver breech babies in a hospital.

She shares the moments and people along the way that helped give her the confidence to pursue a breech vaginal delivery and they discuss why it was so important to her to at least try.

If you've ever been curious about a breech, vaginal, hospital delivery, this is the episode for you!

Resource Links:

• Dr. Tate (OBGYN)
• Dr. Rachel (Chiropractor)

Follow Arrivals on Instagram

Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

Trigger Warning - this episode includes discussion on pregnancy loss. 

Buckle up, listeners, you’re in for a packed episode! In this episode, Merelise is joined by spiritual doula, surrogate, medium, and mom of six Devyn Goss.  

They cover all six of her birth experiences, which range from a hospital birth with an epidural, to a C-section, to a home birth VBAC. Devyn talks about raising three autistic sons, shares how her children have guided each of their own births and discusses each of her kids’ unique spiritual abilities. They discuss getting your partner on board for a home birth, fearmongering around big babies and breech positioning, her super rare en caul birth, and so much more. 

Additionally, Devyn shares her experience as a surrogate and they dive deep into all the questions you’ve always wondered about, from logistics around matching with a surrogate to what happens if the intended parents miss the birth. 

This is a magical, multi-faceted episode that’s as unique as Devyn is! 

Resource Links: 

• Follow Devyn on Instagram 
• Learn more about Devyn’s work 
• Women Who Run With the Wolves 
• Your Zen Mama 
• The Mother Daze 
• Emily the Medium 

Follow Arrivals on Instagram

Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

Merelise is joined this week by her friend, Melanie Green, who shares her three birth stories. 

Melanie walks Merelise through her three births, which all took place in a hospital, and how ongoing back pain related to her epidural in her first birth led to her seeking a different birth experience in subsequent pregnancies. While she ended up getting an epidural during all three of her labors, she had a different recovery with each, depending on how far into labor she got the epidural, among other factors.  

She reflects on her journey to motherhood, which was largely shaped by her PCOS diagnosis. 

They discuss how she knew very little about birth prior to giving birth the first time (including not even knowing she had to deliver the placenta), savoring the difficult newborn phases once you’ve been through them once, and what she learned between her first and third births. 

They also chat doulas, false labor alarms, naming babies, chiropractic care, and more! 

Follow Arrivals on Instagram

Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.

This week, Merelise is joined by mom, grandma, midwife, doula, lactation consultant, and co founder/owner of Kindred Space Birthing Center. A mom of six and an infinite well of birth wisdom, Kimberly walks Merelise through each of her birth stories, ranging from a C section (her first child) to a home birth VBAC. 

She explains how her first experience with birth led to her desire to have physiological home births for her subsequent kids and eventually her passion for midwifery. They discuss Kimberly’s incredible career and her journey to her current role as midwife and co-owner/founder of Kindred Space. 

Kimberly explains Kindred Space’s philosophy of community birth, emphasizes on how important it is for women to not let our type of birth divide us, and reflects on her amazing variety of different birth experiences across all six of her kids.

Resource Links: 

• This episode is brought to you by Mère. Learn more at Mere-foreverychapter.com

• Follow Kindred Space on Instagram
• Learn more about Kindred Space
• Maude Callen 
• La Leche League 
• Mothering the Mother 

Follow Arrivals on Instagram

Follow Merelise on Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast contains general information and discussions around health and related subjects. This information and the other content provided in this podcast and any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is this information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.